New policy takes effect in January 2017

In addition to 10 Laws and many circulars and decrees on fees and charges taking effect from January 1, 2017, many other important new policies will also take effect on this day.

Penalty for vehicle not in owner's name

From January 1, 2017, if people do not change the name of the vehicle, the owner will be subject to Article 30 of Decree 46, traffic police will fine from 100,000 to 200,000 VND for individuals, from 200,000 to 400,000 VND for organizations that own motorbikes, scooters and similar vehicles that do not complete the registration procedure. However, fines for vehicles that are not in the owner's name will only be imposed when detecting traffic violations, or through records management.

This regulation applies to cases of being given, gifted, allocated, transferred, or inherited assets such as motorbikes, scooters, and similar vehicles.

(Clause 1, Article 30 of Decree 46/2016/ND-CP of the Government regulating administrative sanctions for violations in the field of road and railway traffic).

Increase regional minimum wage

From January 1, 2017, the regional minimum wage will increase by VND 180,000 - VND 250,000/month compared to the current level.

Specifically, the regional minimum wage applicable to employees working in enterprises operating in region I is 3.75 million VND/month; region II is 3.32 million VND/month; region III is 2.9 million VND/month and region IV is 2.58 million VND/month (according to the old regulations, regions I, region II, region III and region IV were 3.5 million VND; 3.1 million VND; 2.7 million VND and 2.4 million VND, respectively).

(Decree No. 153/2016/ND-CP stipulates regional minimum wages for employees working under labor contracts).

From January 1, 2017, the regional minimum wage will increase by VND 180,000 - VND 250,000/month compared to the current level.

Extending the pilot period of using electronic invoices

From January 1, 2017, the pilot use of electronic invoices with tax authority authentication codes for a number of enterprises in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi will continue until a replacement document is issued instead of having to stop from December 31, 2016 as previously stipulated.

(Decision No. 2660/QD-BTC of the Ministry of Finance issued on December 14, 2016 on extending the implementation period of Decision No. 1209/QD-BTC dated June 23, 2015 of the Minister of Finance on piloting the use of electronic invoices with authentication codes of tax authorities).

Karaoke room expansion requires a fee

Also from January 1, 2017, licensed karaoke establishments that want to request to add more rooms will have to pay a fee of VND2 million/room in centrally-run cities, cities, and towns under provinces, and VND1 million/room in other areas.

The fee for the appraisal of the karaoke business license will be determined based on the number of rooms and the area. Accordingly, businesses in centrally-run cities and provincial cities and towns must pay 6 million VND/license if they have 1 to 5 rooms and 12 million VND/license if they have 6 rooms or more (in other areas, the corresponding fees are 3 and 6 million VND, respectively).

(Circular No. 212/2016/TT-BTC of the Ministry of Finance on appraisal fees for granting karaoke and discotheque business licenses).

Ministry of Industry and Trade manages milk prices

From January 1, 2017, the agency receiving and the subject registering the price of milk products for children under 6 years old will follow the instructions of the Ministry of Industry and Trade; the agency receiving and the subject registering the price of disease prevention and treatment drugs for people on the List of essential drugs will still follow the instructions of the Ministry of Health.

For branches and agents that are not allowed to decide on prices, they do not have to declare prices, but must still notify the prices to the People's Committee at the district level.

(Circular No. 233/2016/TT-BTC of the Ministry of Finance amending and supplementing a number of articles of Circular No. 56/2014/TT-BTC guiding the implementation of Decree 177/2013/ND-CP of the Government detailing and guiding the implementation of a number of articles of the Law on Prices).

Add more subjects to pay fees

From 2017, citizens aged 16 and over who apply for a new Citizen Identification Card; change their Citizen Identification Card when they reach 25, 40, or 60 years old; or switch from a 9-digit or 12-digit ID card to a Citizen Identification Card will have to pay a fee of VND30,000/card instead of not having to pay as previously prescribed.

(Circular 256/2016/TT-BTC of the Ministry of Finance on the regulations on collection rates, collection, payment and management of fees for granting Citizen Identification Cards takes effect from January 1, 2017).

According to PLO